220 Best Restaurants in Colorado, USA

Casual and colorful, Dos Hombres serves the usual variety of combination platters and Mexican specialties, and loads up the plates for low prices. The fajitas and enchiladas are particularly well made, with quality meats and a noticeable lack of grease, and they have an unusually large menu of interesting salads (check out the Cancun version, with pineapple and fried tortilla strips). Service is snappy and friendly, and the staff is accommodating to kids. The margaritas and cervezas are inexpensive, too—they're half-price during the weekday three-hour happy hour and all day Tuesday.

Loud and fun best describes this place, which is popular among locals and visitors of all ages. Kids hang out in the arcade while their folks watch sports on the big-screen TVs. Pizza, sandwiches, wings, and burgers with surprising toppings are classic crowd-pleasers. The full bar offers 30 beers on tap.

Earth tones and calming blue glass tiles that reflect flickering candlelight provide a serene backdrop for the beautifully plated Mediterranean delights of chef Jesus Alvarado who trained at Aspen's renowned Matsuhisa sushi restaurant only a few blocks away. From caviar served with tater tots and hamachi crudo to Chilean sea bass topped with fennel puree and lemon caper sauce, each dish is light and bright with gorgeous color and flavor. Steaks, lamb chops, and veal are also a hit, but the seafood shines. Ask the in-house sommelier to recommend pairings from the extensive wine list or choose from one of the city's best liquor selections, including an impressive Japanese whiskey collection. 

Asian food gets a bit of a Latin treatment in this inviting space. The menu has a strong Japanese bent, with sushi and sashimi, tempura, beef, and other traditional dishes elegantly presented and layered with complementary, often Southwest-inspired flavors.

The fajitas and well-stocked bar make this lively Mexican restaurant popular with locals and visitors alike. The decor is bright, with light woods and large windows. When the sun is shining, ask for patio seating by the river. If you're hungry, try one of the enchilada platters or carne asada. The fish and bison tacos are other popular options.

This casual brewpub is located by South Main River Park, so after tackling the nearby miles of hiking and biking trails, dine on burgers, sandwiches, pasta, or steak, and wash it down with ales brewed on-site. Or visit its taproom location just off Route 24 where the brewing facility is housed for a wood-fired pizza, nachos, and other pub food.

Aspen's elite book tables at this swanky, highly regarded restaurant in the Little Nell hotel not only for the beautifully presented entrées but also for the glass, ceiling-height wine cases stocked by knowledgeable sommeliers who also make tableside recommendations. The seasonal menu highlights locally sourced produce and game, as well as meat raised on Colorado ranches. For a lighter meal, head to the bar, which features Colorado beers and spirits.

You won't see the big guy very often here—or at the company's downtown Ritz-Carlton–Denver, Denver International Airport, or Vail locations, either—but that doesn't keep sports fans from packing it in, hopeful. And when the toothy-grinned former Broncos QB (and current executive vice president of football operations) John Elway doesn't show, diners console themselves with some of the best steak-house fare in town, particularly the porterhouse (big enough for half a football team) and the huge side of chunky-creamy Yukon gold mashed potatoes. While you eat, ease back into the intimately set-up, camel-color suede booths and watch waterfalls cascade over granite slabs, choose from the pricey but appealing wine list, and save room for make-your-own s'mores.

If you want to sample some local brews, check out the Estes Park Brewery, which has been crafting beer since 1993. The food is no-frills (beer chili is the specialty), and the menu includes things like pizza, burgers, sandwiches, and house-made bratwurst. Not sure which beer you will like? Head downstairs to the tasting area to sample a variety of brews on tap, like the popular Stinger Wild Honey Wheat or the balanced Estes Park Gold amber ale.

This full-service cafeteria offers great views, but it's nothing fancy. Grab a simple coffee here or head across the dining room to Mesa Mocha for a latte. Order an omelet cooked to order, or if you're in a hurry to hit the park trails, you can grab a to-go lunch. Dinner options include basic pizza, salads, and bowls. Only breakfast is served during slower months.

Authentic and family friendly, this Mexican restaurant serves good food in huge portions. Try the chiles rellenos, super nachos, and especially the Chile Colorado: fork-tender beef simmered in a savory red-pepper sauce. The appetizer combo plate is a meal in itself, and to feed an army, order Fiesta Fajitas. There's a second location in Grand Junction.

"Hidden gem" describes this strip mall café perfectly because it's unlikely you'd stumble across this creative outpost on your own. But local foodies and tourists who do their research know where to go for lunch in the summer. Starting around Thanksgiving, you can get dinner here, too. Grab one of the family-style tables and dig in to meals like a sauté of shrimp, scallops, and cod or a wood-grilled chicken salad with curried mayonnaise and toasted pumpkin seeds. The menu occasionally changes, but the chef, who works in an open kitchen so that he can converse with customers, may occasionally sneak you something made to order.

With a focus on the historical cuisine of the Four Corners region where Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado touch borders, chef Brother Luck's restaurant serves up creative tasting-style menus sure to impress his Top Chef fan base. Along with the Four Corners significance, the number four represents Luck's four key sources of ingredients—hunters, gatherers, farmers, and fishermen; the four seasonal menus; and the fact that Luck is the fourth generation in his family to have the name Brother Luck. The four-course suggestions are perfectly paired modern American dishes often featuring beef, wild game, or seafood, served up in a clean, modern dining room with a casual atmosphere for passing plates and allowing seasonal dishes to shine in flavor and presentation.

Tunes, brews, and barbecue attract visitors and locals to the outdoor patio at this causal smokehouse in Old Colorado City. Guests can be overheard arguing about which homemade sauce is best and singing along to the music of live acts from across the country that can be heard throughout the block. Smells of piled-high pork sandwiches, family recipes, and slow-smoked specialties also waft through the nearby streets.

The menu at this unpretentious Italian spot is surprisingly rich and complex, featuring traditional favorites, as well as surprises like the scrumptious garlic-roasted prime rib. The atmosphere is especially delightful in summer, when you can dine on the outdoor patio overlooking the Gunnison River and enjoy an after-dinner libation at the River Bar. Don't miss the popular Float & Dine package ($95 per person), which includes a mellow but scenic predinner raft trip from Three Rivers.

The staff is friendly and the pizzas are excellent, thin-crust, and "Philly style," which means they also offer that town's famous stromboli with the same thin, crispy crust. If you'd rather have pasta, the jumbo beef ravioli is a local favorite. An exposition kitchen means lots of give-and-take between the dining room and the family that runs the place, and they still have the large, foliage-lined patio with its backyard feel.

About 10 miles from downtown Boulder on the dirt road going through the historic region of Gold Hill, this humble cabin hardly looks like a bastion of haute cuisine, but its six-course prix-fixe dinner (or three-course option) is outstanding. Entrées change daily but have a mountain gourmet theme, and may include roast duck or leg of lamb.

The owners of this burger joint—a trendy dining room with exposed brick, bright-green seating, and animal drawings on the walls—grind their own beef, lamb, chicken, pork, and buffalo for exquisite gourmet patties. The focus is on locally raised, grass-fed meats and unusual toppings: try the lamb burger with tzatziki and feta spread, or even a vegetarian option. Arcade games entertain kids while parents enjoy Colorado microbrews.

As much a museum as an eatery, this restaurant is crammed with mining artifacts, odd antiques, and taxidermied animals. The hearty menu includes steaks, ribs, hamburgers, chicken, pasta, prime rib, and chicken-fried steak, all with homemade sides and sauces. The elk burger is a local must-try.

This spot combines specialty coffee with cocktails, tasty food, and board games to create a unique place to socialize in downtown Durango. Hearty burritos and sandwiches dominate the menu, though homemade pastries are on offer for a sweet treat. The café makes for a great place to post up on a laptop or plan an outdoor excursion with friends, while the back room is set up like a large living room complete with classic games and comfy couches.

Bring along a dollar bill that you're willing to leave on the wall---it will join thousands of others that have been drawn on, written on, and tacked up in rows around and above the bar. There's nothing fancy here, just good pasta and pizzas. If you're in a creative mood, build your own pie, with a combination of ordinary toppings, from pepperoni to sausage, then add more unusual extras like almonds or jalapeños. They don't take reservations, but you can call ahead for priority seating.

Outdoor adventurers both local and visiting gather to kick back and refuel on the fresh and healthy dishes at this lively spot on downtown's Main Street. Seasonal ingredients fill the bowls, salads, and sandwiches and are best enjoyed on the patio with a cold beer.

A blend of books, coffee, martinis, and some of the best breakfast and lunch sandwiches you can get your hands on make this cozy shop a local favorite. Collages covering ceiling tiles and worn couches give this spot its character, and the après-ski rehashing over hot buttered rum and wine samplings brings in the community.

This larger space from the brothers who own Sushi Den next door, Izakaya Den is supposed to be like a Japanese izakaya, an informal and inexpensive drinking place where snacks are served. Instead, its menu is nearly identical to its sister eatery's, with a more extensive roster of tapas-style sushi offerings, and they share the same executive chef. That said, the high quality of fish imported from the owners' market in Japan is unparalleled in Denver, and several dishes—the hamachi, the crispy tuna, and the Wagyu carpaccio—are stellar.

For a delicious summer detour, head 10 miles north of town to James Ranch, where you'll find a pleasant organic farm, with an outdoor grill that features homemade cheeses, homegrown meats, and produce grown on-site. The menu keeps things simple, featuring a short list of burgers, sandwiches, and salads. After visiting the goats, shop the local market next door.

Between the appealing kids' menu and the memorabilia that suggests Elvis has not left the building, Johnny's is all about fun and family. Breakfast (until 2 pm), lunch, and dinner are served daily, and they are all budget minded and large portioned. The menu is mostly what you'd expect—comfort food like meat loaf and mashed potatoes, burgers, milkshakes, and biscuits and gravy—but they also do an above-average rib eye and some tasty Mexican, as well as a popular list of hot "dawgs." A pie happy hour happens from 3 to 5 pm daily, with $2 off slices.

Prices are reasonable at this casual, bustling Nepali and Indian restaurant with dark wood walls, red booths, and a wood bar in the center of the room. Kathmandu has received accolades for its vegetarian food, but everything is good on a full traditional menu that spans the gamut from starters like momos (dumplings) and samosas to aloo gobi (cauliflower and potatoes), tandoori chicken and lamb, and curries. Friday night features an all-you-can-eat dinner buffet.

The smell is enticing as a thinly sliced Wagyu sizzles on a 1000° Hot Rock at the table in this dark sushi restaurant near the base of Snowmass mountain. Kenichi has been operating in Aspen since 1991, so Snowmass locals are happy to have their own outpost of the institution. Start with a warm dish like miso black cod before diving into sushi. Be sure to order whatever special roll the chefs have concocted, or if you're sticking with a warm entrée, try the pan-seared duck with a caramelized blood-orange soy glaze.